November 4th, 2009 by admin

WHEN growing aging body, all body functions decline, including memory. One of them is cognitive problems (memory) is called a mild Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). This is marked by forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating.

An American study reported that people who make healthy Mediterranean diet lower risk having MCI, or at least be postponed. “More than that, this diet also prevents the development of MCI to Alzheimer’s, especially if done as soon as possible after diagnosed with MCI,” said chief researcher, Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, a neurologist from Columbia University Medical Center in New York.

For the purposes of this study, researchers from Colombia involving 1400 participants without cognitive problems, and 482 people with MCI. Furthermore, the researchers followed the development of their health condition during the four and a half years. The participants’ average age was 77 years old, was also asked to fill out questionnaires about their eating habits during the past year.

Mediterranean diet is a diet that consume a lot of fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and minimize processed cattle as milk, cheese, butter, and red meat. In the study, participants were divided into three groups based on the Mediterranean diet adherence, the group that the diet is strict, less strict (was), and not strictly (or even not at all the Mediterranean diet). Furthermore, investigators examined the participants’ cognitive function.

The result is known that the Mediterranean diet provides a double benefit, ie, preventing MCI and the risk of memory decline further. In fact, the group that did not strictly apply this diet.

“The group that runs the Mediterranean diet are at risk 17 percent lower than the MCI group had a complete diet. While in the strict Mediterranean diet, decrease the risk reaches 28 percent,” he explained about the study published in the Archives of Neurology .

Scarmeas further suggested that their newly diagnosed MCI, should immediately apply this diet so as not to develop further into Alzheimer’s. If the suggestion is followed, the opportunity to become Alzheimer’s can be reduced as much as 45-48 percent. “Previous research also reported that those who obey the Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of Alzheimer’s,” he said.

Unfortunately, Scarmeas certainly have not found a reason why the type of diet is beneficial for brain health. However, he suspected it related to the reduction of inflammation, which is quite a role in some cases of diseases related to the brain. Another possibility is that these diets tend to be low in cholesterol making it more likely the risk of cardiovascular disease was also lower.

Responding to the results of these studies, division chief of psychiatry / geriatrics Montefiore Medical Center in New York, Gary Kennedy, a positive comment. “This seems dose-related response. The more you obey the Mediterranean diet, the better the outcome,” he said.

Similar stated nutritionists from Tufts University in Boston, Alice Lichtenstein, who helped delighted to see so much evidence about the benefits of a healthy diet. Related benefits that the Mediterranean diet in reducing the risk of cognitive disorders, he looked at there are two possibilities, namely the type of healthy diet that is profitable, or because the people who run a healthy eating pattern usually also have a healthy habit, so that automatically lowers the risk of disease.